Yoshiaki Kawajiri has been one of the Japanese anime industry’s greatest influences for nearly 30 years, and his seminal period piece Ninja Scroll (Jubei ninpuchou) is another one of his masterful works adored by fans worldwide. So, it’s only natural Hollywood wants to cash in on a live-action adaptation.

According to this past Sunday’s article at Variety, Warner Brothers in association with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way production house will produce an adaptation by the currently red-hot scribe Alex Tse. The production will be co-produced by Madhouse. Tse pulled writing duty for Zack Snyder’s upcoming Watchmen and has also adapted Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man for Snyder. Appian Way is also currently making headway with their adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece Akira.

On a personal sidenote, this news comes as bittersweet. Sure, it is cool that Hollywood has the ability to make such films these days, and there is undoubtedly some talent working on these adaptations, but being that the original works are [to some] untouchable – or at the very least should have the input of the original creators, directors, and/or artists, all of which has been thrown to the wayside in lieu of remaking these projects for American audiences.

Hopefully, Appian & WB will pioneer this with their joint production with Studio Madhouse, the original anime production team. As of yet, there has been no word on the level of their involvement, but hopefully if these great talents play a major role on these live-action anime adaptations, it may ensure that these projects do not ultimately fall prey to cinematic acculturation.

The Fall schedule this year is full of new and interesting sci-fi, fantasy, and horror projects, and the premiere of the new series Sanctuaryon the SciFi Channel has quickly become a part of the top ranks of the genre. The fascinating horror hybrid is a look into the otherworldly titular organization run by the mysterious Dr. Helen Magnus, who collects and studies that which has been all but forgotten in the human world. Cryptozoological monsters and other supernatural beings are “residents” at the Sanctuary for All.

The very well-produced series from creator Damian Kindler (Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Stargate: Atlantis) includes a variety of great effects work, ranging from the subtle (lots of green-screen composites that are seamless) to great make-up and other practical effects. The cast is well rounded and have good writing to guide them through the dark corners of the Sanctuary world. Amanda Tapping is Dr. Helen Magnus; she is revealed as the proprietor of the Sanctuary for All, where she protects the secrets of the world (and netherworld) with her daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), a headstrong ass-kicking young lady who stalks the creatures of the night and helps her mother with her research. At the center of the story is our main character Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne), a forensic psychiatrist who has been searching for answers to a tragedy that had befallen him as a child, and whose secrets are revealed to him by Dr. Magnus when he crosses the threshold towards his newfound destiny. Dunne is likable in the role; his keen sense of perception is an asset to the team, and he is equal parts nerd and hero. Henry Foss (Ryan Robbins) is the goofy yet brilliant tech expert at the Sanctuary, and provides the comic relief in the series. The rest of the cast is equally good, and the pilot sets up future relationships with them. Will must now divide his time between the world and the Sanctuary, and hopefully survive the team’s future encounters.

I look forward to reviewing this series, as it seems like a lot of fun and could go somewhere. However, I have only watched the pilot episode, but look for more on here soon.

With regard to remakes, reboots, adaptations, and other potential franchise fare being produced these days, and despite the apprehension that some may have when it comes to these projects, some pop-culture icons that are slated for a new generation are shaping up to provide these stories and characters with new life.

As with his 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, director Marcus Nispel has chosen to take on master slasher Jason Voorhees in a new version of Friday the 13th. Slated for the titular release date in February 2009, Nispel takes the Camp Crystal Lake mythology and updates it to spine-chilling effect. The new trailer has surfaced online, and it looks to be another great blood-soaked, sex-laden romp that looks to pay a sleek homage to Sean S. Cunningham’s original horror-fest. Check it out below:

Back on July 28th, the great Sam Raimi was interviewed during the San Diego ComicCon whilst promoting his new horror film Drag Me to Hell starring Alison Lohman, and offered up some interesting tidbits on the possibility of resurrecting Ash in a new installment of his Evil Dead series. The last outing was in 1992. It’s been a long time, Sam. A very long time. Groovy.

*NOTE: Bruce Campbell also confirmed in an August interview that he and Raimi were in talks, however nothing has been confirmed as of yet. He went on to explain that if their respective schedules allowed it, that he would love to; on one condition…only Sam is at the helm. Obviously.

Rob Zombie could be the QT of neo-grindhouse horror. Based on the comic The Nail, which Zombie co-wrote with horror comic god-scribe Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Tyrannosaurus Rex looks to be one helluva good time. Sherri Moon Zombie will star. Bloody-Disgusting has some interesting plot details here.